Widows & Widowers Support Group

This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.

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cliffskat 07/18/2016

Hi Everybody,

Once in awhile in the past we have done a Roll Call post to see who is here and why/how we got here. Since the transition to the new site messed up a lot of people's friends lists, mine included, I thought it might be helpful to see who made it to the new site. Especially if you had to create a new profile to get in, I would love to know who is here. Seeing Diane post, who used to be Nicker07, an old friend of mine, it made me think it would be a good idea. Before the new site, I had over 400 people on my Friends list. I now have about half that, and the ones I had deleted are back on my list and people who were active just before the migration are not there. And I can't even hug someone who is not on my friends list because of the way the new site has been built.

Please don't post any last names or your kids' names - those should be kept private for your safety - this is a public forum.

I will start:

I am Cliffskat, my name is Martha, I lost my husband Cliff to an unexpected heart attack in November 2007. He was only 55, I was only 50 when he died. We had just celebrated being together for 30 years. I joined DS a couple weeks after he died. I became a "Community Leader" or "CL" for short in March of 2011. I stayed to help others get through their losses. I met my new husband in this group (he is a widower), and we married in 2010. I moved from Florida to England. My life looks nothing like it did before I lost Cliff. But it is good for the most part.

Okay, who else is here???

Love and Hugs,

Martha

honey01409 07/18/2016

I am Honey01409, my name is Andrea. I lost my companion Tom, to cancer on Jan. 24, 2015. we were together for 21 years. I joined DS in March 2015.

marjoe 07/18/2016

I'm Marsha, Marjoe on the site. A CL. Widowed July 2008, at age 52, after a fast and lethal cancer took my husband down like a Cat 4 hurricane. And speaking of hurricanes, I'm thinking of this site's changes. I've shared much emotion here, and have gotten support back fivefold. Like Martha, I would love to see who is still here. If there's a time to come out of the shadows and just acknowledge that you're still here, it's now. No ulterior motive (well, maybe just a little).

JesusisOurSaviour 07/18/2016

Hi Martha,
We are badly in need of this Roll Call. It feels like a ghost town here!!
I've been on DS since 2012 the AML leukaemia site, 2014, then when my husband, Ben, passed on, I joined the W/W site. This site was a Godsend for me!
I'm still hanging in, with hope of ressurection for this site. I know it's we, the people who will eventually keep this site going, in spite of the horrible format of the "new and messed up site.
I'm a forever optimist (I'm not sure at this point, if that's a good thing here)
I do get the feeling you and Fish have a plan of action though!!!
Hugs to you Martha........Sandra

snowalone 07/18/2016

Hi Martha...i'm still checking in. Hope springs eternal! Miss everyone that have seemed to have evaporated.
Nanne

katie2016 07/18/2016

Here! My real name is Kristie, but I go by "Kate" on the World Wide Web. Lost my husband on December 29, 2015 to an unexpected heart attack. We had just celebrated 20 years together one month earlier. I have been blessed with unconditional support from an amazing bunch of family and friends, but am always thankful for the understanding, advice, and comaraderie found here. It has been so helpful to connect with others that truly get it. Hoping there are enough of us hanging in here to provide the same support to others that we received.

ellio329 07/18/2016

Hello! My name is Amy. I lost my husband unexpectedly from a staph infection on March 1st 2016, after a year of multiple surgeries to replace his aorta due to an aneurysm. He was 52, and I turned 50 2 weeks before he passed. I joined not long after I lost him, but I have not visited the site in a few weeks; I'm not crazy about the new format and I'm finding it a little frustrating to navigate. However, it's still so comforting to have a place where everyone understands so I have decided to try to persevere.

deremusl 07/18/2016

I'm still here. My name is Linda. I lost my sweet husband of 45 years suddenly and unexpectedly on Feb. 17, 2015. I found this site after a few days and have been coming here every day since. DS and the friends I found here have been my main source of comfort. I am devastated about the changes. But I will stay because of all the blessings I've found here, but it isn't my comfort zone anymore. Hugs to all.

Deodarglow 07/19/2016

Hi, I'm Carol and I lost my wonderful and creative husband Jordan to cancer August 24th 2015. He played me beautiful music every day. I have been here reading posts since last September but for some reason the site didn't let me join until now. So I traveled this journey with you all through the long winter, the holidays, then spring and now summer. Jordan was 68 when he transitioned to heaven and I was 60. Thanks and hugs. Oh, I was not able to send a message to one who friended me because it came up error. Wish it would work.

patriciapattersongoo 07/19/2016

Hi when I signed up here, it used my Facebook name so I was never ask for a name to use on here even when they changed it all up. The only thing it changed was my password... About 20 times lol . Anyway, I'm Patricia, Tommy had a heart attack on February 6 2016 :( ...and I started coming here not long after that. I am 57 and he was also, we were married 37 years( actually 36,we had a anniversary last week) ( I miss him SO much) ...I am like most of you, I don't like this new format but I keep coming back thur checking on everyone but it's mostly a ghost town and that's sad. I wonder if they even realize how many people they hurt

onebrokenheart 07/19/2016

Onebrokenheart. I am Cheryl. My husband Donald died February 2013 from throat and liver cancer. We had been together 13 years. Don was 66 and I was 53. I joined DS a few months later. I was living on a farm in Indiana but in 2015 I moved to Texas to be caretaker for both of my 86 y/o parents who both happen to now be blind. I have made some wonder friends on this site. One in particular is definitely a friend for life. DS has been a godsend to me and I struggle to remain on here despite the awful changes.

EJ1 07/19/2016

EJ, or Eric. I lost my life, my wife May 23 of this year. I'm here at the suggestion of a therapist because I refuse to do an in person group therapy

Lisastp 07/19/2016

I am Lisa - still here -- my wonderful husband Roy died very suddenly in October, 2014 of an apparent heart attack. This site was critical to me in the first few months - each time I had a thought or feeling that I couldn't deal with, I'd post here and receive immediate responses that truly helped. I am doing much better now but it's still very difficult to say I'm "OK." I've participated in group grief counseling, and also a yoga group for healing, and I started a meetup group for widows and widowers in the New Jersey/Philadelphia area, and there are now 160 members in the meetup, so it tells me we are not alone, any of us -- there a so many people experiencing this heartbreaking loss. And it helps to talk to them (either on-line or in person).

missinghim1985 07/19/2016

I'm Kim, I lost my boyfriend to an overdose on January 16, 2016 at age 30. We were those people that met each other and just knew. Grateful to have been able to feel that, so many don't. This site has been critical in letting me know I'm not alone, marriage no marriage none of that mattered here.

Veronica77 07/19/2016

I have been on DS since 2012 but am not sure anymore as it used to tell me in my profile. :( I lost my partner Mike 02/11/14 of a sudden heart attack after 20 years together. Though I don't post much I read pretty much everyday. It helps to know that I am not alone. This "new and improved" site has caused many headaches for many people, and I wish the DS people would do something to bring back the feeling that this is a support group. It feels like Facebook or something. I am hanging in there because of all the people that have gotten to know and I hope that this disaster can be fixed!!

kevingifford 07/19/2016

Hi,
I'm still here. Lost my wife of 26+ years on 11/29/15 in an automobile accident. I joined in the beginning of this year. I miss Sandra terribly all the time, but one must never let the outside world know. This site is a safe place to let our true feelings show and be accepted and supported. I'll still be here no matter the format of the site.

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